Andrea Dinan - CPDT-KA Founder
Carla Filies - CPDT-KA Collaborator
Carla Filies - CPDT-KA Collaborator
Owner City Dogs Training
What excites you about EduCanine? I'm a geek who loves education and dogs so being able to combine my two passions in life and work with other geeks like me is a dream come true.
What do you wish you would have learned earlier that would have made your job easier? Being constantly present is very important when
Owner City Dogs Training
What excites you about EduCanine? I'm a geek who loves education and dogs so being able to combine my two passions in life and work with other geeks like me is a dream come true.
What do you wish you would have learned earlier that would have made your job easier? Being constantly present is very important when working with dogs. Their language is subtle and quick, so if you aren't paying full attention to your dogs, things can go awry very quickly.
What led you to work with dogs? It was something that happened organically. People in my neighbourhood asked me to help with training and walking their dogs. Wanting to have a deeper understanding led me to find ways to educate myself, which led to an even bigger passion for the inner workings of our best friends. And from there, City Dogs was created.
Email learn@educanine.org
Carla Filies - CPDT-KA Collaborator
Carla Filies - CPDT-KA Collaborator
Carla Filies - CPDT-KA Collaborator
Owner Walking the Six
What led you to work with dogs?
Feeling lost and frustrated trying to find the right job in my field of study, my boyfriend’s dog walker encouraged me to go with her on walks to clear my head. Being out there (in the freezing cold) with the dogs was the happiest I have ever been, so I joined the dog walking industry. M
Owner Walking the Six
What led you to work with dogs?
Feeling lost and frustrated trying to find the right job in my field of study, my boyfriend’s dog walker encouraged me to go with her on walks to clear my head. Being out there (in the freezing cold) with the dogs was the happiest I have ever been, so I joined the dog walking industry. My curiosity and interest in dog behavior led me to training and obtaining my certification through the Council for Professional Dog Trainers. I have never looked back nor regretted my choice to take the chance on making a life that has truly gone to the dogs.
What is the most important thing you have learned from dogs?
In a word – Patience. Dogs have taught me that my emotions effect them as much as they effect me and will thusly effect the time we share together. The power of stillness and waiting is a gift when you are training dogs (and I have found it is true of people as well!). Learning to give breathing room so you can see the dog’s thought process and the behaviour unfold, leads to better and longer lasting results.
What is exciting about EduCanine?
The People - The amount of knowledgeable people we work with and their willingness to share and teach each other. It’s a very collaborative and funny group of people and I feel energized whenever we get the chance to brainstorm or review content.
The Idea - Its such an organic approach to training and educating people about dogs. We are constantly analyzing what we do, how we can make it better, and how we can connect with our communities both local and abroad.
Email teach@educanine.org
Instructors
Don Hutton - KPA Certified - Owner of Running Dogs Training and Behavior
what led to my work with dogs?
I always loved spending time with animals since I was young, I wish I had continued working with animals since my first job as a Vet Assistant, but it took a sketchy Yukon mutt to get me back on course. His name was Bu. A summer with him lead to winters of leading dog sledding tours, before long I was working at the Toronto Humane Society and that’s when I knew I wanted to take the dive into training and behaviour.
what is the best dog book I’ve read?
Well, simply put I think every dog should come with a copy of Jean Donaldson’s Culture Clash! I feel like it’s the most accessible and comprehensive description of how dogs see the world and how we can safely address issues that might come up along the line. She’s my hero! But my other hero is Alexandra Horowitz, he book Inside of a Dog left such an impression on me. I particularly appreciate how she shifts from serious science to gushy dog mom!
which breed best depicts me?
This question feels so exposing! I love northern mutts, sled dogs, reserve dogs, street dogs! This is a huge generalization but I really love a dog who thrives on a hike and I think some of these mentioned are usually pretty good at taking care of themselves. So, to answer the question, I suppose these are the types of dogs I would want to be, I hope they depict me!
Maggi Burtt - CPDT-KA - Owner of Tailspin Petworx Training
One thing I learned from working with dogs: Dogs are both infinitely simple and exceedingly complicated, they are to be understood not underestimated.
One thing I wished I learned before I started working with dogs? BODY LANGUAGE hands down
The Best dog book I have ever read? The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson
Nicole Barnett - CTC - Owner of We Work For Treats
What is the best dog movie that you have seen?
I have a few favourites; two classics, Homeward Bound, and Oliver and Company. A more modern choice, Life of Pets. I am a huge observer, before I had my own (non family own) dog and started working with dogs, I’d go to the dog park and watch dogs. First to watch body language, but second, to make little hypothetical conversations between dogs as to why they did what they did. What goes on inside dogs heads fascinate me. Life of Pets, just cuz it’s so cute!
What is one important lesson that you have learned from working with dogs?
Boundaries and Patience, and NO they don’t have to do anything because its ‘good’ for them. Dog’s are so great at setting boundaries and learning about dogs needs for consent has helped me in my own human relationships. Patience, is just key to working with dogs.. just let them be dogs and figure out how you fit into that equation. What’s good for them anyway? Can we let the dog choose that? This has help me remove this mold of what dogs should be doing and just letting them be the leaders of their life.
What led you to work with dogs?
What led me into dog training specifically was wanting to learn how to better serve them. The interest of behavioural science and why anything does what they do was so fascinating, and then dogs was an amazing application of learning theory.. they are really cut and dry species!
Dan Josselyn - KPA - Fear Free Certified - Owner Golden Rule Dogs
What led you to work with dogs?I first moved to Toronto 13 years ago with my beloved 18-year-old cocker spaniel, Kayla. I was still looking for work when she passed away from a stroke at the age of 19. I never had children, but Kayla was like a child to me, my only child. When she died in my arms, I was crushed. I decided to spend the rest of my life working with dogs as a way of helping me cope with the grief of losing Kayla, and also as way of giving something back to all dogs, after this dog had given so much to me.
What is the best dog movie that you have seen?I’m not sure if it’s the best, but I recently watched a movie called “Superpower Dogs” at the science center and Loved it! It’s about working dogs that do search and rescue, help people with PTSD cope with their trauma, and save people that fall off boats from drowning. All these tasks are framed as “Superpowers” and the dogs, along with their human partners, are all superheroes. I Love superhero movies and I Love dogs, so I literally cried happy tears the entire movie!!
What is one important lesson that you have learned from working with dogs?
If you want to get good anything, put a firm foundation in place and gradually build on incremental successes. The first dog training course I ever took was called “Foundations” and I Loved it. It was taught by a local Karen Pryor Academy trainer and that inspired me to take the KPA dog trainer professional course myself. They taught me the value of laying a firm foundation by being more methodical, taking notes, and gradually building on successes. It was a life changing experience. I was never a very methodical person, but I vividly remember at the time telling my partner “I am going to become a more methodical person.” And I did! This didn’t just change the way I work with dogs, it also made me a better dart player, physically healthier, and happier. Now I teach a class called “Foundations” and try to help others learn the value of laying a firm foundation grounded in science and building on incremental successes.
Meghan D'Arcy - CTC, ACDBC, CSAT and Fear Free Certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant
What led you to work with dogs?
When I brought my dog Wile E Coyote home as a puppy, I was in my early 20s and I was totally unprepared to care for a dog with clinical separation anxiety (shout out to every young person who's trying their best to do right by their dog). I pursued a career as a professional dog walker so I could bring Wile E with me and avoid leaving her alone while I worked on helping her overcome her separation anxiety. As I gained experience working with dogs and training with my own dog, I became deeply interested in dog behaviour. Learning about the nuances of dog behaviour motivated me to work with dogs in a way that honours their intelligence as well as their need for safety, consent, fun, inclusion and enrichment. I enrolled in the Academy for Dog Trainers and then the CSAT program with Malena DeMartini in order to specialize in proactive training for puppies and rescue dogs and behaviour consulting for dogs and their guardians who struggle with fear, reactivity, aggression and separation anxiety. Wile E has followed the path of knowledge as well, earning various training certifications and titles before joining me as an assistant in my puppy playschool program.
What is one important lesson that you have learned from working with dogs?
Dogs are hard-wired to avoid serious conflicts. And, believe it or not, humans are hard-wired to be a little bit afraid of dogs. This often manifests as discomfort with dogs playing robustly with us as well as each other and avoiding interactions between dogs due to our own nervousness. Our fears and biases can get in the way of prioritizing the dog's actual desires and feelings as well as our ability to accurately assess the level of risk. We can often trust dogs more than we think! Especially in social settings with other dogs. Take the pressure off, avoid hovering and micromanaging, breathe, and intervene positively only when necessary! Confronting my own fears and biases has made me a much better trainer and behaviour consultant. One of my greatest joys is helping to socialize dogs who may otherwise miss the opportunity to engage with members of their own species along with helping guardians become more comfortable with their dog interacting with other dogs.
What is exciting about EduCanine?
Collaboration is so important in this industry. I prefer to specialize, only taking on cases that align with my strengths, abilities and interests. I really appreciate having a network of educated, accomplished colleagues to refer to and collaborate on cases with! It's inspiring to work with other trainers and I think everyone benefits, especially the dogs and their humans. We've come up with some amazing resources and initiatives so far and I'm excited to see what we get up to next.
Learn more at https://meghandarcydogs.com
Joey McKinstry - CPDT-KA Creature comforts dog Training
What is one important lesson that you have learned from working with dogs?
One of the things I admire most about dogs is that they never ask "why?" when another dog says no. If you see a dog solicit play from another dog, and the other dog isn’t interested, the first dog doesn’t begin questioning their motive. They just move on!
Taking no as a full sentence is a skill that a lot of humans really have trouble with. Our friends ask us to hang out and if we can't or don't want to, we feel obligated to give a reason every time. Sometimes we’ll even lie rather than leave it at a plain "No." Dogs have taught me that no is more than enough information to know what should happen next.
If you were a dog, which breed(s) would best depict your personality?
I feel like in my truest form, I am a labrador retriever. I think everything is hilarious, I’m ball-obsessed, and I just want to be where the party is at. I work pretty hard at making sure everyone in the room is having a good time and I want to go to the park. All. The. Time.
What is the best dog book that you have read?
This is a tough question! If there was one book that every dog owner should read, I would say Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson. That book has all the information you need to understand and empathize with your dog, which is pretty much the whole shebang when it comes to dog ownership!
The book that really changed how I thought about dogs, though, was Plenty In Life Is Free by Kathy Sdao. Reading this book completely changed my view on what the goal of force-free training is. I had been thinking in terms of "desirable behaviours" exclusively. Kathy Sdao’s book opened my mind to the question of "what should our relationship with our dogs look like?"
Learn more about Joey by going to www.creaturecomfortsdogtraining.com